Why are some people "disappointed" by the 6.X patch story?

[Kaurhz]

I don't know, with a richer story, this could totally work. To me the problem lie with the fact that structure is not fit for the current story. But overall, I agree with you.

With a richer story that isn't involving the conclusion of an arc -- Maybe. But overall with such a short space between trials it is just generally going to lead to less flushed-out development with encounters -- Either this or too many things happening at once. Neither of which I think is particularly good, but we'll see.

[Dorito_Burrito]

This isn't gonna become incredibly bloated like that one Really Big Thread™ is it?

[Hurlstone]

I personally have really enjoyed it. Since I started playing I have wanted to know more about the Thirteenth/The Void, and so far I have been really happy with what lore revelations we have got. Loved the insight into Void culture and how they interact with each other, plus the Contramemoria which expands on what we have learnt about that event in previous patches (Said characters even have updated dialogue). 6.2 honestly is up there in my top fav 3 patches because of it. Golbez is an interest take on the classic character (Am I the only one who thinks he has a very sexy voice? Yes? Ok…) and I adore Zero. She has a fascinating personality which we have seen melt over the last few patches, and she just looks cool too. Its also fascinating that we technically saw her during Endwalker with Zenos, and its adds a bit to his character when we learn that he twisted and ‘abused’ her for his own power. Its had some dips at times sure, .1 and .3 in particular fell a little flat I think, and whilst I like what they are doing with Galemald I kinda wanted to see such things happen in its own story rather then be a well, B plot in this. Plus its strange how the best written content in these patches are hidden in the Four Fiends side quest that I bet most players either ignored or did not even realise existed haha. but name a story which is flawless?

I can see why people are disappointed, given how the post-expansion patch are usually the grand crescendo to the Expansion story, it can be jarring to get this somewhat smaller side story. We are in new territory with 6.x, and I think its not controversial to say EW could have perhaps used these patches to expanded its own story a bit. This is how the devs wanted to do it however, and I am OK with it. Curious to see how much this effect the future plot. I was sure that 7.0 would feature us going the Meracydia with Azdaja but now I am not so sure… I do think this is setting us up to go there eventually at least, a bit like how SB was set up in HW’s patches.

[Deo14]

It's not as epic as the rest of the stories. Well of course when compared to the epic build up that was Endwalker, and the conclusion of a 10 year long story, of course this new story might feel "weaker"

It's neither epic, nor "new beginning" as they said it will be. Instead, we immediately rejoin with Scions, we still have Gift of Light for some reason, and here we go jumping shards and saving world once again. I fully expected to go back to grounded adventurer vibe as they said we would.

It's just filler. We knew it was going to be filler. They never said it wouldn't be. And just because it's filler doesn't mean it's bad.

If you want to go into technicalities, then yes, they never said that it's not going to be filler. Who would want to admit that their story is a filler though? They originally said that 6.1 will be start of new arc, and I think it would be fair to assume that it won't be filler. After all, what story starts with that?

And sure, filler doesn't have to be bad, you could say that Lost Children in Berserk is filler since much wouldn't change if you skipped it. Problem is, that Lost Children is actually great story, unlike this fan-service filled filler story, with yet another 20+ years old FF cameo and nothing of substance.

Here's what they said before EW release

Beginning in patch 6.1, this will mark beginning of entire new adventure, separate from the Zodiark x Hydaelyn saga.
...
From 6.1, we will have even greater story.

If you want to stand by technicalities, then I guess you're right, but my idea of "even greater story" isn't a filler that lasts 5 patches (but could be condensed to 2-3).

The story came out of no where. Most stories do, and as you go forward in them, you learn more, and how they connect to eachother.

Well, I sure would like to learn more about how they connect to each other. I would much rather learn that than to spend my time watching fan service/wannabe funny cutscenes.

Let me ask a question - if they condensed story and removed dungeons, do you think this story would resemble more an MSQ or regular Trial storyline?

[RyuDragnier]

I'm fine with 6.x story for the most part, but do notice it slowing down a bit. Then again, this entire thing feels like a trial series being stretched out to serve as filler until we finally start our new story in 7.0.

[Akonyl]

I'm one of those people who isn't really a fan of the 6.X story. I'm willing to forgive it because I acknowledge that it's kind of just filler really, but idk, there's just *something* about it that feels like it's missing something. Maybe it's the lack of connection to established characters and plot, but the quality of it just doesn't engage me and it kind of worries me about the quality of the future stuff, and whether I'll care about it as much when it's a new story that'll likely be pretty detached from the past 10 years.

Also, I'm just not really a fan of Zero. For a while she felt like she was just an edgy brooding coolguy that was being played completely straight, which is just boring to me. There's a light at the end of the tunnel though with her becoming more of a "real person", and a certain FF4 plot point I kind of expect/hope her to mirror along those lines, but for now I just don't care for her all that much, and I hope that if she ends up becoming a 7.0 party member that she becomes more interesting by then.

edit: I will say that I like the FF4 fanservice aspects of the fights though. Only parts I'm disappointed about on that front are that Scar didn't get his own trial fight / didn't get his Phase 2 form, and that I really wanted a decidated "all the four fiends" fight like in FF4.

[Themarvin]

The current story is really strong... and it is not like the others or continued by the other expansions but draws many things to an end and starts up something new.

There is quite a bunch of people that can't handle change at first and is deep within scared and afraid of new things.. that is why you see that some is against it, you see that in the real world as well with things.

Currently I like the change... getting to bury somethings that should had been burried for good with ARR/HW and some new things is going to happen, I don't think we have seen the best of FFXIV yet and that is is about to come, now I wish they make the next raids as in the next expansion as tough as the coils was.

[Rokke]

• It's just filler. We knew it was going to be filler. They never said it wouldn't be. And just because it's filler doesn't mean it's bad.

that was the limp defense of last patch's story too lol

[Lunaxia]

Because it drags. Because it's predictable. Because it's been about 20% original lore versus 80% fluff and tedious FFIV reimagining. Because the characters go absolutely nowhere as there's nowhere for them to go and Zero's character arc ended as soon as it arrived. Because if you are not actually a fan of IV, playing through the villains and story beats picked up from it is about as interesting as watching paint dry. Because it's a year's worth of wasted patch time padding out what feels like a filler arc on a road to nowhere and could have been better utilised doing anything else.

There's quite a list to choose from.

[Renalt]

So stories/tropes vibe better with some but not others. Literally impossible to please everyone. Just because some hate it doesn't make it bad. Just because some love it doesn't make it good either. All a matter of perspective.